Why Do We Get ‘Tired’ When We’re Sad?

When you're sad, your brain uses more energy. Imagine being really upset like you just lost a friend, your brain is working harder than usual to handle all those feelings. That extra work makes you feel tired, kind of like when you play too hard at recess and can’t wait for naptime.

Why does this happen?

Your brain uses energy called glucose, which is the main food for your brain. When you're sad or stressed, your brain needs more glucose to keep going. If it doesn't get enough, you feel tired.

Take the quiz →

Examples

When you're really sad, it's like your brain is working overtime. Imagine feeling so upset after a big argument with your best friend, you might feel too tired to do anything else.
Sadness can make you feel physically drained. Like when you're crying for hours and then just want to sleep for the rest of the day.
Even small sad moments can cause tiredness. Think about how you feel after watching a sad movie or getting bad news at school.

Ask a question

Discussion

Recent activity

Categories: Psychology · emotions,sadness,fatigue,mental health,psychological effects